The City of Our God
Part 1
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)
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But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16)
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)
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INTRODUCTION
Building a Residence for
THE GLORY OF GOD
When the queen of Sheba looked over the great empire of King Solomon the city of Jerusalem was the prime jewel in the crown of Israel. The temple in all of its glory was truly greater than all the wonders of the world. The queen was so taken back that she declared that the half was not told me.
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. (1st Kings 10:1)
And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. (1st Kings 10:2)
And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. (1st Kings 10:3)
And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, (1st Kings 10:4)
And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. (1st Kings 10:5)
And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. (1st Kings 10:6)
Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. (1st Kings 10:7)
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. (1st Kings 10:8)
Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. (1st Kings 10:9)
And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. (1st Kings 10:10)
And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. (1st Kings 10:11)
And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. (1st Kings 10:12)
And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. (1st Kings 10:13)
Two kings were involved in the building of the temple in Jerusalem: David and Solomon. David was given all the plans by God in the building of the temple but because he was a man who had been a warrior and had shed the blood of war God would not allow him to build the holy Temple and its surroundings.
Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains. (1st Chronicles 17:1)
Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee. (1st Chronicles 17:2)
And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, (1st Chronicles 17:3)
Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in: (1st Chronicles 17:4)
For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. (1st Chronicles 17:5)
Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars? (1st Chronicles 17:6)
Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel: (1st Chronicles 17:7)
And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. (1st Chronicles 17:8)
Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning, (1st Chronicles 17:9)
And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house. (1st Chronicles 17:10)
And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. (1st Chronicles 17:11)
He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. (1st Chronicles 17:12)
I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: (1st Chronicles 17:13)
But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore. (1st Chronicles 17:14)
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. (1st Chronicles 17:15)
And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? (1st Chronicles 17:16)
And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God. (1st Chronicles 17:17)
What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant. (1st Chronicles 17:18)
O LORD, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. (1st Chronicles 17:19)
O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (1st Chronicles 17:20)
And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt? (1st Chronicles 17:21)
For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God. (1st Chronicles 17:22)
Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said. (1st Chronicles 17:23)
Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee. (1st Chronicles 17:24)
For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee. (1st Chronicles 17:25)
And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: (1st Chronicles 17:26)
Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever. (1st Chronicles 17:27)
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Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: (1st Chronicles 28:2)
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. (1st Chronicles 28:3)
Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel: (1st Chronicles 28:4)
And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. (1st Chronicles 28:5)
And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. (1st Chronicles 28:6)
Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day. (1st Chronicles 28:7)
Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. (1st Chronicles 28:8)
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. (1st Chronicles 28:9)
Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. (1st Chronicles 28:10)
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, (1st Chronicles 28:11)
And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: (1st Chronicles 28:12)
Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD. (1st Chronicles 28:13)
He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service: (1st Chronicles 28:14)
Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick. (1st Chronicles 28:15)
And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver: (1st Chronicles 28:16)
Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver: (1st Chronicles 28:17)
And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. (1st Chronicles 28:18)
All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. (1st Chronicles 28:19)
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. (1st Chronicles 28:20)
And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment. (1st Chronicles 28:21)
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Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. (1st Chronicles 29:1)
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. (1st Chronicles 29:2)
Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, (1st Chronicles 29:3)
Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: (1st Chronicles 29:4)
The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? (1st Chronicles 29:5)
The building of the temple in Jerusalem was a foreshadow of the great kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ to be built. Christ will build the Temple of the Lord during His millennial kingdom on earth. The prophecy that declares this is found in Zechariah Chapter 6. The Man whose name is The Branch will build the temple of the LORD.
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: (Zechariah 6:12)
Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13)
The Lord Jesus Christ will build His temple, and He will sit on the throne as both Priest of the most high God and King of the most high God. When reading the text in Chapter 17 of 1st Chronicles pay attention to the hidden prophecy of the Spirit of God through verses 13 through 15.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: (1st Chronicles 17:13)
But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore. (1st Chronicles 17:14)
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. (1st Chronicles 17:15)
Now compare these Scriptures with Hebrews Chapter 1, verses 4 and 5.
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:4) For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (Hebrews 1:5)
These two Scriptures show the continuum of the Lord Jesus as BOTH SON and HEIR of all things. God sets a theme concerning God the Father and God the Son in the very early parts of Scripture. Although this Scripture was given in the days of David and Solomon, it is a subject of prophecy because it is revealed by Nathan the prophet. We also know from the testimony of Peter that the true prophets of old had the Spirit of Christ within them, and we find in the book of the Revelation that Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy. This is just a snapshot in 1st Chronicles of God’s promise of an everlasting Kingdom and that His Son will sit on that throne in that Kingdom. All these ‘little’ things reveal the continuation of the word of God through the Spirit of God from the beginning to the end.
It was given to Solomon to build the temple, but he also built the holy city of Jerusalem. We know that Solomon did not cut down the cedar trees himself nor did he mine the gold, he was NOT a stone mason, nor a goldsmith. He, like Moses, took the plans of God and built a glorious temple for the habitation of God’s glory. Solomon was neither a refiner of silver, nor a gemologist, he chose skillful men who were able to follow the plans that were given to him by his father, king David, as Moses chose skillful men to build the Tabernacle, who had within them the Spirit of God, men like Bezaleel.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (Exodus 31:1)
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: (Exodus 31:2)
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, (Exodus 31:3)
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, (Exodus 31:4)
And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. (Exodus 31:5)
And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; (Exodus 31:6)
The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, (Exodus 31:7)
And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, (Exodus 31:8)
And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, (Exodus 31:9)
And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office, (Exodus 31:10)
And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do. (Exodus 31:11)
Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. (Exodus 36:1)
And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: (Exodus 36:2)
To construct the artifacts and the Tabernacle men had to have the Spirit of God within them. That Spirit moved them with the perfection of God’s will to build a habitation to glorify and house the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. Solomon also used men with the Spirit of God within them to build the holy Temple in Jerusalem.
And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. (1st Kings 7:13)
He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. (1st Kings 7:14)
For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. (1st Kings 7:15)
And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits: (1st Kings 7:16)
And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter. (1st Kings 7:17)
And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter. (1st Kings 7:18)
And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits. (1st Kings 7:19)
And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. (1st Kings 7:20)
And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. (1st Kings 7:21)
And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. (1st Kings 7:22)
I want you to see that the God of wisdom, the God of grace and truth moves through history always looking to the end and the finality to a NEW heaven and a NEW earth where righteousness dwells. It is very difficult for many to begin reading the book of Genesis and see this God of wisdom in every word throughout the entire Bible leading to the revealing of the very FULLNESS and majesty and glory and wonder of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Building a Residence for
The SEED of Promise
When God laid the foundation of the earth, He saw all the way to the end . . . the end from the beginning, and the beginning from the end. Through the lives of David and Solomon we should see all that God did in preparing the nation of Israel for the great city of the King: Jerusalem and the holy Temple within the city. Although it was a distant shadow of what is to come, it was, nevertheless, a great example of what God prepared in the future for the nation of Israel.
When the Lord Jesus came in His first advent, He came to be Israel’s King and the Seed of promise. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) This verse begins with the generation of Jesus Christ. This is separate from the promise of KINGSHIP to David’s descendants and the promise to Abraham of his seed possessing the land. The generation of Jesus Christ is the generation that He bought with His blood. As He is the Holy Seed, He has called to Himself those of divine FAITH from Abel throughout the entire history of mankind who have the designation the children of God and the sons of God and the joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
The promise to Abraham was that his seed would possess the entire land of promise from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River. When it comes to the word generation it is consistent throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. I will give you a few examples: He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53:8) Notice in this verse that it was HE who was taken from prison and from judgment. This presents the very crucifixion of the Lord Jesus on the cross, and it has been given to those of FAITH to declare this generation of blood, for He shed His blood for our transgressions so that we might have peace with God. Then we have Psalm 24, verse 6, This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. This is a generation that seeks the Lord to stand in His presence in their FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. (Psalm 22:30) There are two great truths in this verse: one truth is that A seed shall serve him, then the second truth is that they shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. Now you have not been this way before, and a lot of this may be new to your faith, but don’t be alarmed because now we are going to walk in a path that few have traveled.
There is an earthly seed and a heavenly seed. The heavenly Seed is the Lord Jesus Christ. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) To get a secure footing on this verse in Galatians, God breaks this verse down in this way: to Abraham and his seed, meaning the actual seed of Abraham, WITH the promises that were made; then the Holy Spirits changes direction, remember that Abraham’s seed were to be as the stars of heaven, but God said not all those seeds, as of many. Now there is only ONE Seed and that is the heavenly Seed, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. Now in verse 26 of Galatians Chapter 3, we are all the children of God IF WE HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26) And through the Supernatural Seed of Christ we are of Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29) In Galatians Chapter 4, verses 28 and 29 we have a division of those who were born of the flesh and those who were born of the Spirit. Those who have been born of the Spirit are heirs of the promise, those who have been born of the flesh are those who are in bondage to Adam and Adam’s seed in the flesh.
There are TWO seeds: one is the seed after Adam’s transgression and sin, the other is the seed of the Spirit, the heavenly seed which is of faith. This is all connected to the one generation of Jesus Christ from Abel through the history of man to the last child called by faith, these are the children of God, and they have been made joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. (Galatians 4:28) But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (Galatians 4:29)
As the divine Seed, which is Christ, was sent from heaven, we should see that this Seed was the holy thing of Luke 1:35, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. This holy thing was the divine Seed from heaven. This shows that the Seed from heaven was endowed with holiness from the very beginning, Glory to God in the highest, for the highest Himself came down from heaven to be made of a woman after the likeness of flesh, totally APART from Adam. This was the Super Man from heaven. He was ALWAYS separate from the natural realm of man. Christ was ALWAYS a heavenly Man. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. In John 3:13 the Holy Spirit reveals that it is Christ who came down from heaven and as He spoke these words, He still, as the Son of man, had a presence in heaven. There was no natural man in Adam who could accomplish this station of omnipresence as the divine Man from heaven.
When Christ was conceived, the divine Seed, that holy thing, was brought by the Holy Ghost, that holy thing (Christ) was sent into the world by God the Father. That holy thing was that ONE SEED of Galatians 3:16. At the birth of Christ, God the Father proclaimed, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son.
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:4)
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (Hebrews 1:5)
It was God the Father who proclaimed at the birth of Christ, This day have I begotten Thee. This also reflects the prophecy in Psalm 2:7, I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Notice that in Psalm 2 that it is a personal relationship between the newborn Christ and God His Father, the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Here is the relationship between God the Father and God the Son at the manifestation of the image of God. So, all this began in heaven and NOT on the earth. It was heaven’s Seed. (Galatians 3:16 and Luke 1:35) It was the holy thing in the womb of Mary. While He was there in the womb, He was protected by His own holiness. His divine presence was known by John, who was in the womb of Elizabeth, and as Mary entered into the room John (in the womb) jumped for joy. This holy thing was Supernaturally implanted by the Holy Ghost within Mary’s womb. While in the womb, He was that holy thing and at His birth He was called the holy child . . . from the holy thing to the holy child.
● For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (Acts 4:27)
● By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (Acts 4:30)
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Building a Residence for
The LORD’s ANOINTED
In Psalm 2 we have a picture of the rejection of Christ by the world and by the people of Israel and by the kings of the world and the rulers of the world. There is one phrase that is important, against the Lord’s anointed. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying. (Psalm 2:2) Why is the Lord’s anointed so important? It is important because it is only the heavenly King who has been anointed with the oil of gladness.
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8)
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows: (Hebrews 1:9)
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (Hebrews 1:10)
These three verses are directly connected to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ who IS the Son of God in verse 2 of Hebrews 1. He is the Heir of all things, and it is He who created the worlds.
The oil of gladness is the heavenly oil. It is the same Son in Hebrews 1:2 and 1:8. The oil of gladness is the heavenly oil and it is only mentioned twice in Scripture. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Psalm 45:7) The first mention is in Psalm 45:7 and the second and last is in Hebrews1:9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Psalm 45 is a prophetic psalm. It is all about the King of righteousness and those who love Him, and the heavenly oil of gladness.
Why is the oil of gladness so important to the Lord of glory? Only two times is it mentioned in Scripture. Both times it is reference to the Son of God, the KING of righteousness. The world and religion have blinded the people so that they cannot see the glories and the wonder and the majesty of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The word glad is recorded many times in Scripture. In the gospel according to Luke 2:10 we have the glad tidings from above. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good (GLAD) tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10) And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. (Luke 1:19)
In the book of Psalms, we have the word glad mentioned many times, in Psalm 9:2 it is the rejoicing of the heart of man to sing praise to the name of the most high. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. The psalmist was addressing the most high, not of the earth but of heaven itself. There is only ONE who is higher than high and that is the HIGHEST Himself, and we find that title in Psalm 87:5, And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. In Psalm 14:7 it is the LORD who will deliver Israel and Jacob out of their last captivity when He sets up His millennial Kingdom in Jerusalem. This will be the salvation of Israel, and Israel shall be glad. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. In the working of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of the soul, He brings that soul to conviction, and when the soul is delivered through the new birth the words, I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities. (Psalm 31:7)
As we look back on our state that we have been saved by God’s mercy and grace, we understand that we have been made righteous in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are glad and have joy in our hearts. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (Psalm 32:11) As servants of the Lord, we are to magnify His holy name, and to spread HIS glad tidings throughout the world. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. (Psalm 35:27) It is the point of our salvation and being delivered from sin and death and given LIFE IN the Lord Jesus Christ that makes us GLAD, ( Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. Psalm 40:16) showing the position of the LORD, and HIS joy, and His gladness of our redemption that it was by a great price that He paid. But now we can look at Him in His garments of righteousness with His crown of wisdom and His breastplate of gold and remember Psalm 45:8. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Everyone who is born of God and declared that they are the children of God, the sons of God, need to have a heart, mind, spirit, and soul SEEKING the Lord’s will and His guidance from above.
In the Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs, Chapter 1 and verse 4, we are to RUN after the King. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. He is to be supreme over our hearts. It is HE who has brought us into the presence of heaven although we are still on the earth. This is truly a mystery that no one can understand now, but we will understand it all at a later time. It is His love that has drawn us unto Himself, and it is our love that remembers that love that He took to the cross of Calvary and shed His blood and gave His life for us. The upright, those who are saved truly love Thee, O God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the gospel of Luke God begins a sequence of events from heaven to bring GLAD tidings to the earth. In Luke 1:19 the angel Gabriel begins the process by bringing GLAD tidings to Zacharias who was attending the altar of incense in the Temple. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. To further see the work of heaven come down to earth when the Lord Jesus was born, the angel proclaimed that GLAD tidings of great joy which shall be to ALL people concerning a Savior which was/is Christ the Lord. This is very important because Christ IS the anointed titled with the oil of gladness, and it is coupled with His LORDSHIP over all things.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:8)
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (Luke 2:9)
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10)
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (Luke 2:12)
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, (Luke 2:13)
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14)
In Luke Chapter 8, verse 1 we have the VASTNESS of the Lord’s ministry to Israel. He went throughout every city and village preaching and showing through miracles the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. The VASTNESS of the anointing in heaven of the Lord Jesus Christ with the oil of gladness came BEFORE His manifestation on earth. It is the oil of gladness that depicts His PRIESTHOOD as a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. It is the oil of gladness from the horn of heaven that depicts His KINGSHIP over the Kingdom of God. Throughout Scripture God has given us types and symbols of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. (Exodus 40:9)
The Tabernacle was the first dwelling PLACE on earth for the Lord Jesus Christ. That is a huge statement. How can this be proven? First, all the Tabernacle and the instruments and the things within the Tabernacle were made by men who had the Holy Spirit of God within them. Bezaleel was given wisdom from above in all that he made. Everything in the Tabernacle and the Tabernacle itself was anointed with holy oil. That oil was made by the apothecary and was ONLY to be used in anointing the Tabernacle and what was inside: the brazen altar, the laver, and the PRIESTHOOD: Aaron and His sons. [It is] like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, [even] Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; (Psalm 133:2) As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:3) This holy oil was so unique that it was only to be used in this manner; first, the Tabernacle was anointed, each and every board and the coverings of the Tabernacle were symbols of God the Son. As you walk into the Tabernacle, on the right side is the Table of Shewbread. This was the place of communion and fellowship with the Almighty God. It was also symbolic of the eternal Bread from heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ, in the gospel of John proclaimed in Chapter 6 that He was the Bread from heaven. He was anointed with the oil of gladness. Then on the left side inside the Tabernacle, there was the candlestick, it was anointed with the holy oil. It was made from pure gold, and it was BEATEN and fabricated from ONE lump or piece of gold. There were NO seams and there were NO pieces, it was ALL ONE of pure gold, and ONE continuous piece that gave LIGHT to the Tabernacle. In Chapter 9 of the gospel of John, the Lord Jesus said of Himself that He was the Light of the world.
Next in the Tabernacle was the golden altar that was the altar of intercession. In Chapter 1 of the gospel of Luke, when Zacharias was before the altar in incense, he was interceding for the whole nation of Israel. In the Tabernacle that altar of incense was a place of intercession, the Lord Jesus Christ anointed with the oil of gladness is OUR great Intercessor between God and man. For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1st Timothy 2:5)
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14)
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
This altar of incense was anointed with holy oil as Christ was anointed with the oil of gladness. Next, as we walk through the Tabernacle, we approach the veil. The veil was a place of entrance. The veil itself depicted or represented the Entrance into heaven. All the colors and the weaving of Cherubims represented the Entrance to heaven being BLOCKED to man. The first mention of Cherubims blocked the entrance into the garden of Eden from Adam and Eve. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)
The Lord Jesus Himself, today, is the Doorway to heaven. He proclaimed, I am the Door in Chapter 10 of the gospel of John. Therefore, even the veil had to be anointed with the holy oil as Christ as anointed with the oil of gladness. As we make our entrance into the Holy of Holies, all the articles of service had to be anointed with the holy oil. The Ark of the Covenant had to be anointed with the holy oil. The Cherubims looking down upon the mercy seat from above had to be anointed with the holy oil. Then next, the mercy seat, it also had to be anointed with holy oil. And of course, the mercy seat was where the blood was applied, thus, representing the blood of Christ and His propitiation through His blood for us. The high priest could NOT go into the Holy of Holies without blood.
● Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)
● And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. (1st John 2:2)
● Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. (1st John 4:10)
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
All of this holy oil sanctified the Tabernacle and all that were within. The holy oil was also used to sanctify the brazen altar and the laver that were outside the Tabernacle in the courtyard. The holy oil was also used for ALL the articles of service: the bowls, the plates, the hooks . . . ALL articles were sanctified showing that the LIFE and SERVICE of the Lord Jesus Christ to fulfill the will of the Father were ALL sanctified by the oil of gladness.
When it came to the priesthood, Aaron and his sons were anointed with the SAME HOLY OIL thus showing their direct connection TO the Tabernacle and all of its articles. The priesthood of Aaron was to represent Melchisedec on earth. The priesthood of Aaron’s sons was to represent the priesthood of every true believer of Jesus Christ, for they also shared in the holy oil as we share, through the Spirit of God within us, that oil of gladness that brings joy to our hearts.
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Building a Residence for
THE PRIEST UPON HIS THRONE
As we leave the Tabernacle and press on through Scripture, we do this with gladness in our heart. When Solomon’s Temple was completed the glory of God descended and made His abode within the Temple; thus, God again spoke to man by revealing His glory on earth. Through Hebrews 1:3 Christ IS that glory that descended into the Temple of Solomon. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; The word brightness means the FULL EXPRESSION of God’s glory. It was the same full expression of God’s glory that was revealed to Peter, James and John on the holy mount when Christ displayed the FULLNESS of God’s glory to man. In one instant of time the express image of the invisible God and the complete BRIGHTNESS of His glory was revealed to mankind.
This glory was in Solomon’s Temple and was there until God became so grieved with Israel’s sin and trespass that the glory departed. When we come to the time of the manifestation of Jesus Christ on earth, Solomon’s Temple was a distant memory. All the wonder and the glory of Solomon’s Temple had been destroyed because of the sin of Israel. Yes, there was a Temple in the days of the Lord Jesus on earth, but it was a temple made by the hands of man without the Spirit of God. Herod built the temple for his own pride and to appease the Jews. That temple had no glory UNTIL the Lord Jesus Himself entered in as recorded in the gospel of John, Chapter 2. Then the glory of God, although it was veiled, entered and claimed Herod’s Temple for His Father, in the words, make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. (John 2:16) What a revelation that buyers and sellers have NO place in the house of God or in the service of God. There can be NO PLACE NOR PEACE (the dove) with God through merchandising.
Today the house of God is the place of your FAITH and it is the Lord Jesus who is building His own house, whose house are we who love the Lord. But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6) There is neither buyer nor seller in the work of salvation. The visible church today needs to learn the lesson of John Chapter 2. The Lord was so upset that He made a scourge of small cords. He overturned the tables of merchandising and drove the merchandisers from the Temple. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; (John 2:15)
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
The last Temple that will be built on the earth will be built by the Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem and will be His habitation for one thousand years. It will outshine the Temple of Solomon for grace and truth in Jesus Christ will sit on the throne. Solomon’s throne was NOT in the Temple, but his throne was in his own house or palace. But in the millennial Temple, Christ will sit on one throne as both Priest and King of righteousness fulfilling all the prophecies that were given of the millennial reign of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. As this will be the last Temple on earth: from the Tabernacle to Solomon’s Temple to the reconstruction under Ezra of the same Temple, to Herod’s temple, and to the millennial Temple, you are back to the number five (5) the number of grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (John 1:16) In the prophecy of Zechariah Chapter 4, verse 7, we see a mountain of grace crying out, Grace, Grace. Who [art] thou, O great mountain? before Zerubabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone [thereof with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace unto it. (Zechariah 4:7)
In John’s gospel THAT mountain is revealed in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. When John expressed what he saw with Peter and James on the holy mount, he simply used the words, and we beheld His glory. John still felt the magnitude of what he had experienced. There was NO need to express or to describe the circumstances for the whole first Chapter of the gospel of John magnifies the Person and the Brightness of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You would think that this would be enough, but for the pilgrim in his journey he cannot rest until he goes into the Jerusalem which is above. This heavenly city whose Builder and Maker is God also has a Temple NOT made with hands but a direct creation of God Himself. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)
When I think of the foundation Stone of the city of God, it is a jasper stone, a translucent stone of pure shining light. God creates this foundation completely created without seam. This one foundation Stone, which everything and all are built upon, is to remind all who are in the city of the preciousness of the True Foundation Stone of our FAITH, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is without seam, without blemish, where purity of light comes from within Him. The wildest thoughts of mankind cannot imagine what waits for the children of God when their journey is through and they pass through the heavens above into the city of our God. What the apostle Paul saw in the third heaven could not be told, for we would not believe a Temple, a house with many mansions within our Father’s house.
● Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1)
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)
● And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, (Revelation 21:10)
We live in an age when men lie to endow themselves to the congregation and their souls are empty of all spiritual thought. It is the devil who twists all moral thoughts, however, in the darkness there shines a bright light on the trail of FAITH men speak in the Spirit of God. The Spirit of truth is still proclaiming the preciousness of Christ. In John Chapter 2, the Lord Jesus stated, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19) As we know, He was NOT speaking about the temple of Herod, but His own Body, for within that Body was the Temple of the Living God. His glory was concealed, but the words that He spoke REVEALED an everlasting truth that within the image of the invisible God contained the FULLNESS of the GODHEAD bodily.
The third day of His resurrection carried with it THAT Temple of the Living God. He revealed Himself to His disciples and to many others that the TRUTH may be told that the grave could neither contain, nor hold the Almighty God, that death itself was vanquished by the power of God. Eternal life was assured to those who believe on Him by His resurrection.
Throughout Scripture the third day is very important. Not only in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, but in the prophecy of a little read book titled, Hosea. This book contains many truths in the relationship of the people of God with the Almighty. There is moral teaching well above the morals of mankind, and this seldom read book is full of prophecies and in Chapter 6, we see man within the house of Israel crying out to God. Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (Hosea 6:1) These words, let us return unto the LORD . . . this is the Spirit of grace and truth working in the hearts through FAITH and woos the nation of Israel by stirring their conscience. They are reminded that it is GOD who had torn them and judged them for our sins. It is then that the voice of the Spirit is heard, let us return . . . REPENT . . . and he will heal us. As He has smitten the entire nation of Israel, He will once more built it, He (God) will bind us up. As He has scattered the Jews, He will bring in the sheaves in His love for Israel. In verse 2 of Chapter 6, we have man in the number six and the witness of Christ in the number 2. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. This is the witness of Christ with tears in His eyes, remember that He wept over Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thee.
● Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. (Matthew 23:36)
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37)
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:38)
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:39)
● Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. (Luke 13:33)
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34)
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Luke 13:35)
● The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. (Psalm 118:18)
Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: (Psalm 118:19)
This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. (Psalm 118:20)
I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. (Psalm 118:21)
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psalm 118:22)
This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:23)
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. (Psalm 118:25)
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. (Psalm 118:26)
God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. (Psalm 118:27)
Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. (Psalm 118:28)
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 118:29)
Verse 2 of Hosea in Chapter 6 begins with the word After. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. After Israel examines their hearts, and proclaims, Let us return unto the Lord, AFTER TWO DAYS will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up. It will be a NEW ISRAEL, and Israel will live in His sight. Now this prophecy lingers, and AFTER two thousand years we are in the morning of the third millennium . . . the MORNING of the THIRD DAY. This dates back to the date of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter comforts with these words in 2nd Peter 3:8 and 9.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2nd Peter 3:8) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2nd Peter 3:9)
Now let us remember the words from the Lord Jesus in John 2:19, Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Can you see the overlapping of time? Time becomes a mathematical formula when we deal with prophecy and the word of God. The words in John 2:19 should mean more to you now than before, for NOT only did the Lord Jesus raise the Temple of His Body on the third day but when He raises up Israel in the third day He will fulfill another prophecy by building His Temple and sitting on His throne. It will be the Man whose name is The BRANCH who will build the Temple of the Lord.
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: (Zechariah 6:12)
Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13)
AFTER the thousand years of Christ sitting upon the throne as BOTH PRIEST AND KING, Satan, the old serpent, the devil, is loosed for a short time. This old serpent will corrupt the nations, and they will bring their armies to attack the city of Jerusalem. THIS IS THE FINAL WAR of the nations of Psalm Chapter 2 against the Lord and against His anointed. These armies will be destroyed with fire descending from heaven. The wars of earth will be over. The great white throne judgment will be then set. Men will be judged out of those books according to their works and cast into the lake of fire.
Then we have the glorious city of our God. This is very important for it connects to the word Temple in John 2:19. There will be NO Temple for the Lord Himself will be the Temple thereof. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Revelation 21:22) It is the Lord Jesus Himself who is THE TEMPLE. The Temple that was destroyed on the cross of Calvary, the Temple that was raised on the third day, the Temple that was built by the BRANCH, AFTER TWO DAYS He will raise us up. Concerning the Church: The True Church that lives and walks by FAITH are in the morning of the third day (2025), we are listening for the shout of the archangel, and we are awaiting the descent of the Lord Jesus in the clouds to call us up to our glorious home. We walk with Abraham looking for a city whose Builder and Maker is the Lord Jesus Christ, the same God of glory who appeared to Abram while he was yet in Mesopotamia. And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (Acts 7:2) All the promises, all the prophecies, and the promises to Abraham are fulfilled IN the Lord Jesus Christ for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)
Amen and Selah.
© Copyright – Michael Haigh
Published on August 19, 2025 @ 4:00 PM (EST).
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)